tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958089191816746203.post7467803129738735571..comments2010-02-18T03:16:13.196-08:00Comments on First year on the allotment: Onions and Broad BeansTwo Allotment Gardenistashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06609408957642010228noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958089191816746203.post-54716926024765598082009-03-21T02:32:00.000-07:002009-03-21T02:32:00.000-07:00Thanks for all the tips. Much appreciated!Thanks for all the tips. Much appreciated!Two Allotment Gardenistashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06609408957642010228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958089191816746203.post-14832801493527601162009-03-17T06:02:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:02:00.000-07:00Sounds fab! Im an asparagus newby too! Lots of...Sounds fab! Im an asparagus newby too! Lots of conflicting practices on the web and in books on planting but I honestly dont think its as complex as it seems. Just dont crop any this year. Leave the ferns develop and enjoy. Then wait until the next year and lightly crop. The year after they should be fully established and ready to take full advantage of!<BR/><BR/>Please follow my new blog: http://ryans-garden.blogspot.com/RYANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01600828461516709741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958089191816746203.post-75367191573949231812009-03-02T03:30:00.000-08:002009-03-02T03:30:00.000-08:00Prepare the soil well as they will be in the same ...Prepare the soil well as they will be in the same spot for many years, lots of muck. The soil should be easy draining. Pick a spot that does not over shadow the rest of the plot as the ferns get quite high once you stop cutting in mid June. I prefer to plant in a block not a row as you will also need to tie up the ferns to stop them blowing over in the wind. You could put a strong 6ft post at each corner so you can fit some retaining wire around the block. My 20 plants are now in their 6th year and cropping very well. In fact by mid June we get a bit fed up with asparagus almost every day. I mulch with grass cuttings each spring to form a ridge and cover the ground between the rows with plastic. Keeps the weeds down and helps retain moisture.Life's a bytehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01698614980973801171noreply@blogger.com